By Gokhan Ergocun</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) - Some 25 percent of all EU population has suffered long-term disabilities as of end of 2017, EU’s statistical office said on Monday</p> <p>This population felt some or severe limitations in performing everyday activities for a period of six months or longer, according to Eurostat.</p> <p>It said: &quot;Across the EU Member States in 2017, the lowest proportions of self-perceived long-standing disabilities were reported in Malta (12 percent) and Sweden (13), and the highest in Latvia (41), Slovenia (36) and Estonia (35).

Women with long-term disability represented 27 percent while 22 percent was for men in the year, according to Eurostat data.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been contributing to raise awareness of the disability since 1992.

The World Bank said that 1 billion people — 15 percent of the world's population — had disabilities in the world.

Poor nutrition, education and health care deficiency, unsafe working conditions, the environment pollution, and lack of access to safe water and sanitation are important causes of the disability, according to the World Bank.

"Disability may increase the risk of poverty, through lack of employment and education opportunities, lower wages, and increased cost of living with a disability," the bank said.

WASHINGTON (AA) – President Donald Trump's in-laws became American citizens Thursday, raising questions about whether they used an immigration program the president is seeking to scuttle to achieve American citizenship.

“We just thank everybody for their attention to this very important dialogue that we’re having on immigration,” Wildes said. "This is a very important example of it going right.”

Wildes confirmed in February that the couple were permanent U.S. residents.

Asked after Thursday's ceremony if the Knavs', who are from Slovenia, used so-called "chain migration," or immigration to the U.S. based on a familial relation, to receive their citizenship, Wildes said "I suppose. It’s a dirty — a dirtier word,” according to the New York Times.

“It stands for a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification,” Wildes said.

That "bedrock" has been a focus of the president's ire.

Trump has repeatedly called for the program to be ended on national security grounds, saying it is a "disaster" and seeking to limit individuals who can become citizens based on a familial relation to spouses and minor children.

"Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives," Trump said during his State of the Union address in January.

First lady Melania Trump's office did not immediately respond to Anadolu Agency's request for comment.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AA) – The EU police agency Europol said Thursday that 12 people were arrested in an operation against an organized crime syndicate smuggling migrants from the Balkans to Europe.

Europol said in a statement on its website the suspects allegedly smuggled migrants from Kosovo to Slovenia via the Balkan route.

They were apprehended during a joint operation of Europol, European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and the Kosovar and Slovenian police on Wednesday.

Europol said the crime group used different vehicles for transportation and safe houses along the route to smuggle migrants.

In 2017, this crime syndicate smuggled 300 people, including children, to Europe every month.

The smugglers charged migrants €2,500 – €3,000 per person and made €900,000 every month, Europol said.

Eight suspects were arrested in Kosovo, and four in Slovenia.

During the operation, 12 houses were searched and 19 mobile devices, four guns, and forged passports were seized.

Headquartered in Hague, Europol helps 28 EU member states in their fight against terror, cybercrime and other serious and organized forms of crime.

Additionally, Europol may work with non-EU partner states and international organizations.